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“No such thing, it is not me”

(Photo: Samoa Observer)

JF

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu,
21/10/2017

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Former Cabinet Minister and senior Member of Parliament, FaumuinaTiatiaLiuga, has rejected claimsthat he isthe leader of a group campaigning for votes should the Prime Ministership role be up for grabs.

“There is no such thing and it’s not me,” Faumuina said emphatically when he was approached by the Sunday Samoan at the parking lot of a merchandise store.

Although his name has not been mentioned publically prior, Faumuina said he knows about the rumours and implicate him.

He said they are “lies.”

He said he has been in Parliament and the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) long enough to know such a move would be silly.

“That is an amateurish move,” he said. “That would be the move by someone who does not understand the foundation of the Human Rights Protection Party."

“The moment you decide otherwise, you are out of Parliament. You cannot do such a thing and that is clear in the Constitution and mandates of the H.R.P.P.”

Last week Member of Parliament, Faumuina Wayne Fong raised the claims and expressed sadness at what he had described as “dirty politics” within H.R.P.P. He did not say who the members were. But with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ileleMalielegaoi in hospital in New Zealand since he was evacuated three weeks ago, Faumuina Wayne told the Sunday Samoan these certain members of the Party have been campaigning for votes.

“I find it absolutely disgusting,” he said.

“This is all happening while our Prime Minister is in New Zealand undergoing a medical check up. How can they think like that? These people are driven by the hunger for power they will stop at nothing to get what they want.”

Faumuina said he was approached but he rejected the offer.

“I declined the offer based on so many factors,” he said.

“But the most critical for me is the fact that these people are power hungry people who are self-centered. They will do anything to get to the helm. I call it the small party made up of small-minded people.”

“Here they are rallying up other people to select a leader when our leader is overseas getting his medical check up.”

Asked for his views, FaumuinaLiugasaidFauimuina Wayne should name who approached him to form up another party within H.R.P.P.

“He should name them, but it’s not me,” he said.

“I believe that appointments are made by God, people who conspire will not be victorious in the end.”

The veteran M.P. added that he doesn’t want to judge Faumuina Wayne on his comments.

“We cannot judge in case you will be judged and I never comment on that brother,” said Faumuina Liuga.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa has been hospitalised in New Zealand for the past three weeks when reports surfaced about underground jostling within the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) members for the position. Earlier this week, Acting Prime Minister Papali’i Niko Lee Hang, told the Samoa Observer that he is investigating reports. He has also reassured the country there is nothing to be alarmed about. He pointed out that views expressed by Members of Parliament were their own, not the views of H.R.P.P.

“As far as I know, these are just speculations of a small party who are small minded,” he said.

Papali’i said he was to meet with Faumuina Wayne to discuss the matter before he reports back to Prime Minister Tuilaepa.